Who is the principal in a bond forfeiture case?

• A. The prosecutor
• B. The clerk
• C. The defendant
• D. The surety

Answer: (C)

In a bond forfeiture case, the person bound by the bond—the one whose appearance is guaranteed—is the defendant. The bond is a contract that ensures the defendant will show up in court; the principal (the person on the hook) is the defendant. The surety is the party that guarantees the bond and may be responsible for paying the amount if the defendant fails to appear. The prosecutor and the clerk have other roles in the process, but they are not the principal. So the correct answer is the defendant.